Book construction



J. J. KERNAN BOOK CONSTRUCTION July 27, 1937.

Filed April 17, 1936 Patented July 27, 1937 oars BOOK CONSTRUCTION John J. Kernan,

Baltimore, Md, assignor to Application April 17, 1936, Serial No. 74,983

1 Claim.

requires less space than conventional check book constructions and may therefore be more readily laid on a supporting surface; the provision of a check book which, when opened, provides an inclined writing surface; the provision of a check book construction characterized by primary and secondary cover sections, of which the primary cover section acts as a cover for the entire check sheet, with the secondary cover cooperating with the stub portion of the check sheets and serving as a cover therefor when the primary cover is moved from its normal covering relation; the provision of a check book of the last above stated character, with the secondary cover protecting and providing a support for the stub portions of used check sheets when such stub portions are opened relatively of the unused check sheets.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of this invention, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in detail.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a closedcheck book in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the book illustrated in Fig. 1 in open position and arranged to present an inclined writing surface;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the secondary cover and stubs of the used sheets moved to an open position;

Fig. 4 is a section along lines Q4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views, the reference character l0 designates a back cover section of substantially rigid or non-flexible material. Secured to the relatively top edge of the back cover is an edge strip H which normally extends up wardly therefrom and is foldable with respect thereto along hinge or fold line l2. Extending from the top edge strip H is a front or primary cover element l3, such being hingedly related to the top; strip l I along fold or hinge line It. The top strip II and the primary or front cover ele- (Cl. zen-3s) ment l3 are, like the back cover element Ill, formed of substantially rigid material and provide an edge and surface cover for a plurality of check sheets generally designated at it.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, the substantially rigid cover sections l9, l3, and the top strip l i may be fabricated from material such as cardboard or the equivalent and are preferably faced throughout. The facing material preferably extends across the gaps therebetween whereby to form hinge means on which top strip l I may be swung with relation to the back cover section it) and on'which front cover section l3 may swing relative to top strip H. The adjacent edges of the cover sections and strip are abruptly shouldered as at a (Fig. 4) and the facing material bridging the aforesaid gaps is suitably proportioned whereby, in conjunction with the shoulders a, the hinge means permit limited swinging movement of the hinged parts as aforesaid, for the purpose to be hereinafter described. Other forms of hinge means may of course be substituted for the hinge means above referred to particularly.

Said sheets [6 in vention under description are in the form of conventional check sheets and each, by reference to Fig. 3, comprises a stub portion lfia and a plurality of individual check portions Nib, the stub and check portions of each sheet being detachably related by lines of perforation as is conventional. The check sheets it are arranged to overlie the back cover section Ill, which element is extended slightly beyond the edges of the check sheets for the purpose of protecting such edges, the arrangement being such that when the primary or top cover element l3 is in.

the embodiment of the inits relatively closed position, said cover extends in covering relation to the entire check sheet.

According to the present invention, I propose to bind the check sheets wholly to the back cover section and along a side edge thereof and preferably the left vertical edge, as indicated in Fig. 2.

By this arrangement, therefore, the primary cover element is foldable along a line of fold which is generally transverse to the edge of the back cover along which the check sheets are bound, the advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The particular binding means for binding the check sheets to the back cover element H! are best illustrated in Fig. 2, and such preferably comprise U-shaped binding posts or arches generally designated at it, both legs of the posts being secured at their free ends to the back cover element I ii and having no connection with the top strip element ii and the primary cover element I3. According to the present invention I propose to positively lock the binding posts 28 to the back cover element II! by locking means of the character disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 1,806,466, dated May 19, 1931, and in furtherance of such arrangement I anix to the back cover element pairs of locking sockets 2! into which the ends of the U-shaped posts are projected. Contained within the locking sockets 2! are locking elements (not shown) which lookingly engage the ends of the binding posts upon their insertion into the sockets and thus lock said posts permanently to the back cover element it). One leg of the binding posts extends through apertures 23 formed along the binding edge of the sheets, and said sheets are thus bound to the back cover upon locking of the posts as aforesaid.

In eifecting the binding of the sheets to the back cover ii), the sheets are assembled on said cover, with the sheet apertures 23 disposed in alignment with the locking sockets farthest removed from the cover edge. The binding posts are thereupon projected into the sockets Zl, one leg of the posts passing through the apertures of the sheets, and such simple: procedure or series thereof, depending on the number of binding posts, completes the binding operation.

With such arrangement, the check sheets are bound flat on the back cover element ill, and are loosely yet permanently held thereto. The spacing between the legs of a binding post in relation to the distance of the sheet material between the apertures 23 thereof and the adjacent sheet edge, is such that the book may be in full open position without disturbing the flat disposition of the sheets, either those maintained on the 40 back cover in or those, such as the stub portions,

indicated in Fig. 3, which are turned to open position as permitted by the U-shaped posts.

According to the intended use and operation of the book as above described, the book in its closed 45.position will assume a relation as illustrated in Fig. l, in which the primary or front cover extends substantially parallel but in spaced relation to the back cover sheet i and thus acts to protect the upper check sheet surface. In this connection it will be noted that the depth of the strip H is substantially the overall height of the binding post 20, so that when the book is in its closed relation the cover section I3 is in effect supported on and rests against the relatively top portion of the U-shaped binding posts 28. When it is desired to open the book, as for example when a check is to be drawn, the primary cover element !3 is swung rearwardly of the back cover element I70, such being permitted by the hinging relation of said primary cover element IS with respect to the top strip H and the hin ing relation of said top strip and the back cover element Iii. By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the top strip H acts to space the hinged edges of the primary and back cover elements sufficiently so that when the so opened book is laid on a horizontal surface, the back cover element it and the check sheets bound thereto are supported in inclined position. Such inclined position of the check sheets results in an inclined writing surface which aids materially in the ease with which checks can be written.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, the top edge strip II, in addition to spacing the related edges of the cover elements, also functions as a brace therebetween and aids in giving the so set up book a high degree of stability. This is brought about by the hinge means between the top edges of the cover sections IE and I3, and the adjacent edges of the top strip I l as previously described, which permit top strip H to swing to but not beyond the position in which the strip extends substantially at right angles to the under face of the back cover section It, with the related hinge means between parts H and is providing for limited swinging movement of the front cover section i3 with respect to the top strip I 9 throughout an are slightly greater than 180. With such a hinging arrangement, and with the front cover section I 3 swung to a position in which it underlies the back cover section ill, the top strip ll extends in bracing relation between the top edges of the cover sections, and relative sliding movement therebetween is positively prevented.

The feature of the foldability of the primary or top cover element along a line of fold which is transverse to the line of securement of the check sheets, taken with the ability to position the primary cover wholly behind the back cover, offers many practical advantages over the conventional check book in common usage. For example, the length (width) of a check book is generally greater than its height, and as a check book is usually conventionally laid on a supporting surface with its length extending transversely of the user, the known check book constructions in which the front cover folds from a side edge of the book requires in normal use a space transversely of the user which in length approximates twice the greater dimension of the book. The present construction on the other hand, requires no greater space when opened than when closed. Again, the conventional check book requires the use of one hand to hold the cover open or to hold the opened cover down on the supporting surface. No such requirement accompanies the use of the present construction. Further, the opened book as described herein presents a writing surface which is inclined from bottom to top, such being the proper inclination for ease in writing, as distinguished from prior book constructions utilizing a side folded front cover positionable rearwardly of the back cover, which latter arrangement presents a writing surface which is inclined from right to left, such being improper inclination.

I also propose, in accordance with the present invention, to protect the stub portions 16a, of the check sheets by the provision of a secondary cover designated 25, such secondary cover being of substantially the size of the stub portions of the sheet and being bound in overlying relation to the top stub portion by means of the binding posts 29. Such secondary cover element 25 is preferably of the same rigid or inflexible material as the back and primary cover elements I0, l3, but, unlike the primary cover element [3, moves into open position along a line which is substantially the binding line of the check sheets. The secondary cover element functions to protect the stubs of used check sheets when the book is in open position, as indicated in Fig. 2, and being turnable to an open position with the used check stubs, as indicated in Fig. 3, also protects and provides a stable support for said check stubs when they are swung into open position as, for example, when an entry is being made on the stub of a check sheet from which a check is to be drawn.

While in the foregoing I have referred to par ticular locking means between the binding posts 20 and the back cover element Ill, it will be understood that other forms of connection between said binding posts and the back cover element In may be utilized, it being preferable, however, that the binding posts be permanently or semi-permanently locked to the back cover,

so that accidental removal of the check sheets or stubs from the cover is precluded. Such permanent or substantially permanent connection between the binding posts 20 and the back cover is also advantageous in maintaining stubs lBa in permanent book form after the checks have been exhausted so that a permanent book record of drawn checks may be retained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a check book construction, a back cover section, a plurality of check sheets arranged on the back cover section, means binding said sheets to the back cover section along a side edge thereof, a front cover section, a top strip extending between said sections, hinge means operative'between the top, edge of the back cover section and the adjacent edge of. the top strip and providing for swinging movement of the top strip rearwardly of the back cover section to but not beyond a position in which the top strip extends substantially at right angles to the rear face of said back cover section, and hinge means operative between the top edge of the front cover section and the adjacent edge of the top strip and providing for limited swinging movement of the front cover section relatively of the top strip throughout an are slightly greater than 180 whereby, when the front cover is swung to a position in which it underlies the back cover section, the top strip extends in bracing relation between the top edges of the cover sections and relative sliding movement between the cover sections is prevented.

JOHN J. KERNAN. 

